Legal career opportunities can be found in many areas of the criminal justice profession, from lawyers and paralegal assistants to legal secretaries. Courtroom deputies, administrators, and clerks are some of the legal career opportunities found within the courtroom. Law professor, legal researcher, and law school admissions officer are just some of the opportunities available within the legal education system. Many other career opportunities, such as jury consultant, legal writer, and district attorney, demonstrate the vast array of diverse job opportunities available within the legal system. Jobs in accident reconstruction, forensic science, and administration are also offered within the legal system.
Many people think of a lawyer as being the primary and pinnacle position of all legal career opportunities, however, paralegals and legal assistants far outnumber lawyers when it comes to legal career opportunities. Many law offices employ several paralegals for every lawyer on staff. In many instances, the vast majority of casework is handled by members of a law firm who are not lawyers. Legal researchers typically perform investigations and interview witnesses for the firm. In the courtroom, many legal career opportunities are available for those who have not attended law school, such as clerk, secretary, and courtroom deputy.
Other legal career opportunities are found in the education field. Law professors, forensic educators, and law school admissions officers are all linked to the legal system. Many of the educators in a law school or pre-law school program are key figures in the legal system. Training prospective personnel in matters of legal evidence collection, investigatory skills, and the forensic sciences, these educators make possible the ability for the legal system to function properly and at a high level of professionalism. From teaching operators to properly use a court recorder to educating legal writers on the correct method of completing or preparing a motion, educators are a key component of the criminal justice field.
Several legal career opportunities exist outside the scope of employment typically associated with the legal system. Jury consultants, pre- and post-sentencing investigators, as well as accident and crime scene reconstruction experts are as important to the system as public prosecutors. Mental health officials who interview victims and accused offenders are also critical to the trial and sentencing component of the legal system. Corrections officers, police, and special investigators are also principle components in the criminal justice system. These legal career opportunities are often very well-paying and offer stable employment.